Quicker going up than down

August 13, 2008 - John D'Agostino

As of this writing, fuel prices in northern Chautauqua County range between $4.10 to $4.04 a gallon.

In Jamestown, prices are closer to $4 a gallon and in Pennsylvania, it is around $3.85. Needless to say, many residents are not happy.

As we watch oil prices fall, our satisfaction is not as great when we go to the local pumps. In the last three weeks, oil prices have dropped about $30 a barrel. Yet our region's savings are about 17 cents a gallon.

On the flip side, when prices were rising at $5 a day for a barrel of oil, service stations were increasing prices 5 cents a gallon daily. One recent e-mailer from Fredonia noted prices in Florida are 30 cents cheaper per gallon than they are here.

We know the days of $2 per gallon fuel may be over, but with that cap on the gas tax, our county prices — you would think — should be even lower.